Point-to-point: Star turn by veteran performer Amicelli (From Gazette & Herald)

Point-to-point: Star turn by veteran performer Amicelli

3:31pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Sport

VETERAN Amicelli was the star of the Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club’s meeting at Sheriff Hutton.

The 13-year-old, trained by Cherry Coward at Scackleton and ridden by her daughter Jacqueline, powered up the run in to win the Ladies Open by a healthy margin.

A former winner of the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Amicelli (17-2) saw off the challenge of Sea Scout, a winner at Alnwick last week, and Optimistic Harry.

The fixture had to pass an early inspection because of overnight frost but Lucy Egerton was glad it did.

The rider, who has her horses based in Rillington, won the Novice Riders race – piloting her own Dessert Tommy (11-1) to her maiden winner in only her fourth race.

The pair disputed the lead from three out but had to fend off the efforts of Will Milburn and The Ring after the last.

The two horses battled it out all the way to line and Egerton’s mount prevailed by just a head.

Bright Cloud (5-1) was victorious in the Restricted race and relished the testing conditions under Sheriff Hutton-based jockey Mark Walford. The pair went to the front approaching four out and galloped to the finish.

With the meeting held on land at Mick Easterby’s farm, his son David got in on the act – training the highly respected Classinaglass (5-4 fav) to victory in division one of the Open Maiden. Ridden by Thomas Greenall, the horse is expected to go on to better things.

The Club Member’s race went the way of Guy Brewer and Dark Moon, who won on this card the previous year. The pair took full advantage of Keeverfield and Sea Senor’s continuous blunders out to the right, while Dark Moon took the shortest route up the inner. Brewer then punched his mount out after the last to pull clear.